Venezuela has expressed strong condemnation against the United States after an incident involving the seizure of a fishing boat within its exclusive economic zone. On Saturday, Foreign Minister Yvan Gil reported that the USS Jason Dunham, a US Navy destroyer, allegedly detained a vessel carrying nine tuna fishermen for eight hours, describing the operation as “illegally and hostilely” conducted.
Gil stated that 18 armed agents from the warship boarded and occupied the small fishing boat, calling the event a “direct provocation” triggered by what he termed the “illegal use of excessive military means.” He asserted that those responsible for the action are attempting to create a pretext for escalating conflict in the Caribbean with the ultimate goal of forcing a regime change in Venezuela.
The Venezuelan government is calling on the US to “immediately cease these actions that endanger security and peace in the Caribbean.” However, the US military’s Southern Command, which oversees operations in the region, has not yet provided a response regarding the incident.
Tensions between the two nations have escalated dramatically in recent weeks, especially following the ordering of a significant US naval buildup in the Caribbean, purportedly aimed at combating drug trafficking. US President Donald Trump has specifically targeted Venezuelan drug traffickers in this operation, intensifying pressure on President Nicolas Maduro. The US accuses Maduro of leading a cocaine trafficking cartel, increasing the bounty for his capture to $50 million.
Earlier in the month, US forces engaged in destructive measures against what they claimed was a drug boat in the Caribbean, resulting in the deaths of 11 individuals. Trump connected this vessel to the Tren de Aragua, a criminal organization in Venezuela that he implicated in a broader narrative linking Maduro to drug trafficking activities. This marked a shift in the US military’s traditional role in dealing with such issues, moving from law enforcement to active military engagement.
Maduro, whose leadership is viewed by Washington as illegitimate following the contentious 2024 election, has rejected allegations of involvement in drug trafficking. He has condemned the US military presence as “the greatest threat our continent has seen in the last 100 years,” and has mobilized troops along the Caribbean coast and the border with Colombia in response.
In a show of solidarity and preparedness, Venezuelans were seen gathering at the Fuerte Tiuna military installation in Caracas for militia training. Volunteers arrived by bus and car, many wearing T-shirts indicating their affiliations with various public sectors. Some attendees were older individuals, including one man in camouflage utilizing a walker to enter for training.
At a nearby military base, around 200 volunteers participated in sessions to learn how to use firearms, including Kalashnikov rifles and handguns. A 54-year-old lawyer attending the training expressed a strong sentiment of national pride and readiness. “If they try to attack the homeland, the entire population… will defend it,” she declared, expressing confidence in their preparedness to resort to arms if necessary.
